Utility Machines and Tarp Rollers

Dallas County, Texas

"For this project, we are producing a large volume of the same product; which lends itself to automation.
The production machines that Hamilton Form designed for us have been very effective in improving efficiency.
They've helped us decrease production time and improve costs; which is the name of the game in high volume production."

David Malaer, Plant Manager Valley Prestress Products, Inc.

State Highway 161 in Dallas County is an 11.5 mile toll road being built to provide a vital link between the
Dallas Fort Worth Airport and the stadium and entertainment district in Arlington Texas. Valley Prestress of
Eagle Lake, TX is supplying the prestressed / precast beams, girders and deck slabs for the project.

Girders and beams are being produced at the company's Eagle Lake facility. To save time and transportation
costs, the deck slabs are being cast at a site close to the project.

Hamilton Form supplied the forms for the project, including the deck slab forms. Five, 400-foot, self-stressing casting beds are
being used to produce the deck slabs. To streamline production and improve productivity; Hamilton Form also designed two different utility machines for use in the deck slab production.

One machine combines brushes for cleaning, a spray deck to apply release agent and a strand puller. A second machine
features a vibrating / oscillating screed and finishing brush. The machines can be moved by crane to service multiple beds,
while a dedicated tarp dispenser / roller was supplied for each bed. Run out tracks are installed at the end of each bed for machine storage.

Operations that took 4 or 5 men can now be completed in a fraction of the time by one operator working the machine.
Some of the most difficult manual operations are automated, saving wear and tear on the crew and improving safety.
Productivity improvements; and the fact that the machines can be used on multiple beds; easily justify the investment.

High volume production lends itself to automated machinery to expedite production and save costs. This machine is used for prepping the beds.

Brushes at the front of the machine simultaneously clean both the surface and sides of the casting bed.

The strand puller sets 8-10 strands in a single pass.

A high frequency pneumatic vibrating screed raises and lowers hydraulically on the finishing machine. Once the concrete is partially set, a drag broom attachment finishes the slabs.